Islamabad, June 28: Pakistani opposition parties today marched together to the national Parliament chanting slogans against President Pervez Musharraf ahead of a no-confidence motion in the pro-Musharraf speaker. Islamic party leaders marched side by side with lawmakers from the secular Pakistan People's Party (PPP), the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and smaller anti- Musharraf parties under tight cordons of baton-wielding riot police.
On their march to the Parliament building, opposition MPs carried placards inscribed with slogans "go Musharraf go" and "go speaker go". Inside, the corridors buzzed with tension and excitement as both ruling and opposition parties held last-minute meetings to discuss tactics ahead of the session.
The combined opposition plans to move the no-confidence motion in speaker Chaudry Amir Hussain in protest at his June 14 ruling that sweeping powers Musharraf has given himself and the military were legitimate and did not need parliamentary approval. Musharraf has said he agrees it is undemocratic to hold both posts simultaneously, but believes Pakistan needs him in both posts because of its in stability and critical geopolitical role.
The no-trust motion is the latest ploy in a long-running campaign by opposition groups to force General Musharraf to surrender self-declared rule, quit the Army and submit to a standard presidential election by lawmakers. Bureau Report